Packers could fill roster spot with PUP player

Oct. 25, 2012

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The Packers still have an opening on their 53-man roster and could be saving it for one of their two PUP players who started practicing last week.

Tight end Andrew Quarless and outside linebacker Frank Zombo are in the second of their three-week window of practice before the Packers have to decide whether to activate them, cut them or put them on injured reserve for the rest of the season.

A third PUP player, tackle Derek Sherrod, has not started practicing and appears headed for injured reserve. His three-week window to return to practice remains open for a little more than a week, but there are no signs heís anywhere near ready. Heís coming back from breaking both bones in his lower right leg late last season.

Quarless is coming back from a tearing both the ACL and MCL in his right knee last Dec. 4 against the New York Giants. Doctors waited a little more than five weeks for his MCL to heal before reconstructing his ACL.

He said heís getting a full practice worth of snaps in practice playing mostly on the scout team, and that the swelling in his knee isnít as bad as it was a month ago.

ďI feel ready,Ē he said. ďI felt ready earlier in the season I could have been out there. Itís really out of my hands. I keep communication with the doctor and trainers, itís really in their hands.Ē

Zombo had a severe hamstring injury that dates back to the Packersí offseason workout program. He didnít take part in any offseason practices and failed his physical at the start of training camp. Heís also been practicing as a scout-team player for the last two weeks.